Churchill Member of Parliament Niki Ashton calls this week’s Federal budget a do nothing budget for the north.  She says the Federal government has shown once again that they fail to understand that investing in infrastructure and public services is crucial to economic development across northern Manitoba and across the country.  She says the budget does nothing to address the key issues around infrastructure including housing and water and sewer services that are greatly needed in northern Manitoba.

Ashton adds investment in infrastructure also creates jobs.  She says more people are unemployed today than before the recession and are looking for action now to make life more affordable.  She notes the NDP caucus has put forward practical, low cost solutions including reining in credit card rates, capping ATM fees, restoring the ecoEnergy Retrofit Homes tax credit and providing job creation tax credits for youth and small business all ignored by the government in their budget.